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In the Bolivian high plains, amid the snowcapped Andes, the pre-Inca Tiwanaku culture thrived for more than 500 years. So far only a fraction of the civilization's ruins have been excavated, yet it has yielded some of the earliest and more remarkably well-preserved textiles found in the Americas. Their art features highly abstracted figures, that originally expressed real places, animals, or cultural events but over time became icons with symbolic meaning. The high degree of abstraction in the art of Tiwanaku has inspired several art historians to compare their art to modern abstract movements, including Cubism. The intricate, interlocked geometric patterns on this alpaca fiber sweater are adapted from woven Tiwanaku tunics made around 500 A.D.

Indigenous people in South America have raised alpaca for its fleece for thousands of years before Europeans learned about the animal and exported alpaca fiber to Spain in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today this domesticated animal is bred throughout the world, but its native habitat is the Andean altiplano: Ecuador, southern Peru, northern Bolivia, and northern Chile.

Descended from the wild vicuña, alpaca resemble a cross between a llama and a sheep. Its fleece is similar to sheep's wool, but is usually softer, less prickly, and has minimal lanolin content, making it virtually hypoallergenic. Its extreme warmth, relatively light weight, and natural resistance to water make alpaca wool an ideal fabric for the frigid winters of the Andean altiplano. These qualities have also led to a rise in the use of alpaca fiber in outdoor gear and active wear, although it is also easily spun into a fine enough yarn for use in suits and other dress wear.

Most alpaca products can be treated as you would an object made of sheep's woolhand wash using a mild soap and lukewarm water, or dry cleanbut check the tag or manufacturer's instructions for specific instructions.

Looks like a classic fair-isle pattern. Roomy body and slightly long arms (and those aren't bad things to me). Almost silky feel to the alpaca wool. Seems well constructed. Fun to explain...Read complete review

Looks like a classic fair-isle pattern. Roomy body and slightly long arms (and those aren't bad things to me). Almost silky feel to the alpaca wool. Seems well constructed. Fun to explain that it is Bolivian alpaca woven/knitted by a cooperative of local artisans. I like this sweater a lot.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

Nice sweater, but very misleading photog

This sweater is just as advertised with one glaring exception. The "in person" coloration of the actual product is amazingly different than that of the photograph in its listing. I suppose...Read complete review

This sweater is just as advertised with one glaring exception. The "in person" coloration of the actual product is amazingly different than that of the photograph in its listing. I suppose that Nat'l Geographic has a contractual arrangement with an Ad Agency, or some such, to present the products in a most favorable manner.... I can understand that. However, I have always perceived Nat'l Geographic (the magazine) as the epitome of the printed image. That didn't hold true this time. The sweater is of obvious high quality and I like it a lot. It just isn't even remotely close to the illustrated color. It is much more dull or muted than the printed image. I just looked at other similar comments from other customers and noted the responses from Nat'l Geographic that differences can occur in manufacture due to thread colors, etc. I'm sure that is true, but golly folks, this is radically different. All that being said, the overall quality is Nat'l Geographic worthy and my wife really likes it.... so, I do, too.

This sweater is just as advertised with one glaring exception. The "in person" coloration of the actual product is amazingly different than that of the photograph in its listing. I suppose that Nat'l Geographic has a contractual arrangement with an Ad Agency, or some such, to present the products in a most favorable manner.... I can understand that. However, I have always perceived Nat'l Geographic (the magazine) as the epitome of the printed image. That didn't hold true this time. The sweater is of obvious high quality and I like it a lot. It just isn't even remotely close to the illustrated color. It is much more dull or muted than the printed image. I just looked at other similar comments from other customers and noted the responses from Nat'l Geographic that differences can occur in manufacture due to thread colors, etc. I'm sure that is true, but golly folks, this is radically different. All that being said, the overall quality is Nat'l Geographic worthy and my wife really likes it.... so, I do, too.

This is one of the best garments that I have bought in a long time. It will certainly see a lot of wear when the cooler weather arrives here in the southern hemisphere. It looks classy, it feels good to the touch, and the fit is comfortable without it being baggy. Pity about our exorbitant import duties!

Received this sweater as a gift because I liked its colors on the product page. In reality they are much darker than depicted: the browns are earthier, the greens are more mossy, and the blue and beige are considerably more muted, Still looks beautiful, though, and the softness and quality of the alpaca wool are exquisite. A warm sweater that looks good worn over a white or light blue oxford shirt.

Bought as a gift so I don't know about fit, etc. However, the colors were considerably duller than those in the photo. I was disappointed.

Was this a gift?:

Yes

From National Geographic:Thank you for sharing your comments about this sweater. We regret that it did not live up to your expectations. A product made of multiple yarns often looks different in a photograph. This is not a defect but rather is a quality of the natural wool.

This is a really great sweater - warm, light, soft. I knit myself for over 20 years, I know a lot about knitting. This sweater made perfectly. The colors are chosen very well for men's sweater. Like all handmade knitting it is recommended hand wash and flat dry. After washing the sweater is even softer (I usually wash wool with shampoo). It was my gift to my husband for Christmas a few years ago. Sweater still looks like new.I highly recommend this sweater, I actually came to this website to get a link for my friends.